“Run a marriage? Don’t be ridiculous. Did Limo give her a chance to run it? When we were in school, Limo didn’t fancy her. However, she’s still a capable person. She actually schemed against Limo to get pregnant with his child…”


  “However, evil people will be punished by evil people. Everyone knows that Mo Xiaona is the person Limo loves. So what if she’s pregnant? Doesn’t Limo still look down on her? Isn’t she very smart and arrogant? What’s she thinking now? She actually relied on her child to climb up the ranks and achieved her goal. But what about now? Not only did she ask for trouble, she even implicated the child in her stomach… A child who’s destined not to receive fatherly love. Tsk tsk, how pitiful…”


  “Pfft… Now that you mention it… Eh? Why isn’t Mo Xiaona here yet?”


  “What? Mo Xiaona is coming?”


  “She’s in Rongcheng. She just came back not long ago and was hospitalized for a few days because of a car accident. She’s even staying in the same hospital as Limo. How can she not come on his birthday?”


  “That’s true… I guess she hasn’t arrived yet.”


  —


  Mo Xiaona was about to go out when she was stopped by a stranger.

  “Are you Mo Xiaona, Miss Mo?”


  She was really frightened and looked at him warily.

  “Who… who are you?”


  “It seems so.” The man nodded at her gentlemanly. “Please follow me.”


  Mo Xiaona took a few steps back. “Who are you? Why am I going with you?”


  The man was dressed in a suit and leather shoes. He wasn’t old and didn’t look like a bad person. Moreover, his attitude towards her didn’t seem to be malicious. But no matter what, she couldn’t possibly leave with a stranger.

  The young man was surprised. “Aren’t you going to President Li’s birthday party?”


  Mo Xiaona was stunned. “You are…”


  The man said, “Didn’t you receive the news?”


  “What?”


  “I’m here to give you a gown. I’ve also been instructed to bring you to the styling room to dress up.”


  Mo Xiaona paused for a few seconds before her eyes lit up. “Did Limo arrange this?”


  The man was stunned for a moment, but he didn’t say anything. He only smiled faintly and made way for Mo Xiaona. “Miss Mo, please get in the car first.”


  Mo Xiaona smiled and lowered her guard as she walked towards the car.

  Other than Li Mo, she couldn’t think of anyone else who could do this.

  —


  At Li Mo’s birthday party, the women were still discussing.

  “Xu Qingzhi’s mental fortitude is really impressive. If it were me, I’m pregnant and yet I’m being abused by my husband. But she refuses to divorce me.”


  “Back in school, the two of them didn’t get along, but everyone could tell that she was deliberately trying to make her presence known in front of Limo. But Limo had a girlfriend later on. Now that I think about it, she has always wanted to seduce Limo secretly and become his mistress.”


  “Isn’t she now? Now that she’s successfully promoted, she’s recognized as Mrs Li…”


  “Pfft, go and ask anyone. Who cares about her? Everyone knows that she’s a joke.”


  “If it were me, I would abort the child without hesitation and leave far away! I can’t afford to lose face!”
……

  In the dark corridor, Li Mo’s body tensed and his face darkened.

  He strode forward and his tall figure gradually melted into the bright lights of the banquet hall.

  When the women saw him, they stood up and walked over with smiles.

  “Limo, you’re finally out. Happy birthday!”


  “Happy birthday…”


  “Scram…”


  The few women who were smiling froze instantly. The stiff smile on their faces was especially ugly.

  “Limo, you… what did you say?”


  “Yeah, have you forgotten about us? We’re classmates and good friends with Xiaona…”


  Li Mo narrowed his eyes and suddenly took a few steps towards them. His cold and bloodthirsty aura instantly smashed down.

  “Xu Qingzhi is my wife. You have no right to criticize her behind her back! I’ll say it one last time. Get lost immediately!”


  His roar frightened the women so much that they shrank their necks and trembled.

  Everyone in the banquet hall looked over and saw the gloomy-looking Li Mo. Although they were curious, they didn’t dare to surround him.

  The security guards outside heard the commotion and rushed over.

  “What… what’s wrong?”


  “Throw them out!” Li Mo glared coldly at the frightened women, his voice cold and furious.

  The few women reacted. After being treated like this, how could they still have the face to stay here? Their eyes were red as they covered their faces and ran out crying.

  The security guards exchanged glances and followed closely behind.

  The old lady and Qiao Zhilan stood beside Li Mo. Looking at the furious Li Mo, the old lady snorted coldly.

  “These things have already settled down over time. Now that you’ve suddenly done this, you’ve pushed Qingzhi into the limelight again. Do you think that a few words from them is all? Do you think that they’re the only ones mocking Qingzhi behind her back? The Internet is so chaotic now. Do you know that there are worse words directed at Qingzhi?”


  “If you weren’t stupid and didn’t let things develop, how could this have happened? What right do you have to be angry? Limo, all of this is because of you! Ask yourself, how did Qingzhi get the child in her stomach? Do you know why such a proud person would use any means to marry you?!”


  “Do you understand or not? Why did you do such a thing? How many hearts does Qingzhi have to hurt you again and again?”


  The old lady was so agitated that her hand that was holding the walking stick trembled.

  Li Mo’s tense and cold face changed again and again. He knew what had happened when Xu Qingzhi married him.

  Using the child to marry him…


  However, this marriage started because of the child.

  He only had himself to blame.

  She just didn’t expect the impact to be so huge.

  It wasn’t just those women. Everyone else, even the entire Internet…


  “Cold violence…”


  “A child destined not to receive fatherly love…”


  “A mistress taking over…”


  “Who doesn’t know that Mrs Li is a well-known joke?”


  “If it were me, I would abort the child without hesitation and leave…”


  The nerves in Li Mo’s brain seemed to have snapped as they throbbed in pain.

  “If you continue to be so stupid, you might as well divorce Qingzhi! Let her off, let that child off and stop harming her…”


  The old lady’s voice trembled with tears.

  The old lady watched as Xu Qingzhi endured patiently since she got married. She was anxious and afraid.

  Li Mo was anxious to realize his feelings and treat Qingzhi better.

  She was also afraid that Qingzhi would give up on Limo one day.

  “Grandma, I married Limo because I love him. But the child is the only reason I can get close to him. So I know what I’m going to face in the future.

  This was the only chance in my life. There was nothing precious in the world that could be easily obtained. I would work hard to make Limo fall in love with me. Be it the price or the harm, I was willing to bear and pay it. I had to give it a try. What if it worked?

  “What if I can’t?”


  “Grandma, I really love him. I can bear the consequences, but I’m afraid that no one will love Limo as much as I do. What if someone doesn’t treat Limo well and can’t take care of him? What should I do?”


  Before she got married, she had a serious conversation with Qingzhi. These were the words that Qingzhi had said to her.

  She asked her what she would do if the ending wasn’t satisfactory.

  Yet, she was still worried about Li Mo.

  If this wasn’t love, what was?

  This was probably the only regret she had in her life.

  She was worried that no one could take good care of her beloved grandson…


  What did Limo do to deserve such a girl…


  In the end, she was still hurt by him.

  Li Mo remained silent for a long time before he walked towards the center of the banquet hall with a cold face.

  The hostility on his body was unrestrained. Everyone wanted to approach him, but they subconsciously avoided him.

  Seeing this, Qiao Zhilan was afraid that he would cause trouble and hurriedly followed.

  “Where are you going?!”


  Li Mo continued walking without saying a word.

  Qiao Zhilan frowned and quickly took two steps forward to block his path. Everyone looked over in confusion.

  Qiao Zhilan lowered her voice and said, “Limo, pay attention to the occasion and don’t mess around. You made such a big scene at the banquet today. Let’s see how many people you’ve provoked! Don’t you think you’ve made enough jokes?!”


  Li Mo glanced at her calmly and pushed her away. “I’ll be back soon.”


  Qiao Zhilan lifted the hem of her cheongsam and turned around to look at Li Mo, who had already walked away.

  “Limo!”


  Li Mo didn’t respond to her. He walked through the path made by the crowd and walked out.

  There was more than ten seconds of silence in the huge banquet hall.

  Then, there was a low commotion.

  “What’s going on?”


  “What happened?”


  “He seems very angry.”


  “I don’t know.”


  The old lady walked over slowly from behind. Seeing Qiao Zhilan’s worried expression, she said in a low voice,

  “Let him go. I want to see what other stupid things he can do. If he still can’t recognize himself and doesn’t know how to save and retain himself, that’s his fate! If that’s the case, Qingzhi will be free…”


  Qiao Zhilan frowned, looking melancholic.

  “Mom…”


  The old lady lowered her head and sighed helplessly before shaking her head and leaving.

  Qiao Zhilan pursed her lips.

  Relief?

  What was relief?

  Qingzhi loved Limo so much. Was giving up on him really a relief?

  If a person couldn’t be with the person he loved, what was the point?

  But Li Mo…


  It was really too inconsiderate.

  “Madam Li…”


  People gradually surrounded them and searched.

  Qiao Zhilan could only hide the expression on her face and welcome him with a smile.

  “Sorry, something unpleasant happened just now. Please forgive me for the inconvenience.”


  “We have nothing to do with that. But isn’t the protagonist in a bad mood today?”


  “It’s fine, as long as it’s settled.” Qiao Zhilan smiled faintly, as if what happened just now was really an insignificant incident.

  Since Qiao Zhilan didn’t say anything, they couldn’t continue asking.

  Qiao Zhilan was present. After informing Li Mo to return immediately, the situation in the banquet hall gradually calmed down.

  Seeing Li Mo leave, Feng Geng hurriedly followed behind him. He only caught up with Li Mo when they reached the elevator lobby.

  When she left the hotel, she realized that it was snowing heavily outside.

  There was already a layer of snow on the car.

  The snow was heavy, a rare sight in recent years.

  Li Mo was only wearing a suit and no jacket.

  In the cold winter, Feng Geng hurriedly asked, “CEO Li, where are you going?”


  Li Mo looked at the darkening sky. The brilliant hotel lights illuminated the snow in the sky.

  “President Li?”


  Li Mo snapped out of his trance and stepped down the stairs.

  “Go find my Madam Li.”


  Feng Geng paused and followed her.

  —


  The content of the press conference had been completed by Xu Qingzhi. Her performance was normal and worthy of praise.

  In the following questions, other than the first few questions that were related to the new product of the press conference, the next question was about Li Mo’s birthday.

  “CEO Xu, today is CEO Li’s birthday. May I ask if the press conference is related to today?”


  “President Li’s sudden birthday party this year has a direct conflict with Zhi Qin Cosmetics’ new product launch. Is there anything else involved? For example, the relationship between you and President Li?”


  “I heard that CEO Li was hospitalized for the second time not long ago. Can you tell me why?”


  “Moreover, I heard that President Li’s only ex-girlfriend was also staying in the same hospital… You and President Li have been keeping a low profile for the past few months. Now that they’re suddenly going against each other, does this have anything to do with that ex-girlfriend?”


  Her colleagues in the company did not look too good. They stood below the stage and frowned. “Dear reporters, this is the venue of the company’s new product launch. Please mention some things related to the company, especially this new product.”


  However, the reporters ignored them and continued to talk about Mo Xiaona and Li Mo’s birthday party.

  Xu Qingzhi stood on stage with the microphone in her hand. The smile on her face never changed.

  She listened to the reporters’ increasingly blatant questions calmly.

  After a long while, she held the microphone and said calmly, “The reason why I chose today is because this is the best day before the new year. Not only is it a weekend, but it’s also the most meaningful Laba Festival in the country. Before the new year, there’s no better day, right?”


  The reason why she dared to release the new product before the new year was to solve the confusion of not knowing what to give her compatriots during the new year. Giving her mother, aunt, sister, wife, girlfriend, best friend… Zhi Qin Cosmetics’ new product was definitely the best choice.”